Used bikes...

b-rock · June 2007

Hey everyone... does anyone have any suggestions on where I can check out some affordable used bikes? I'm not looking for anything great, just something I can throw a basket on (if it doesnt already have one) and run some errands, or just ride around the neighborhood.

Also, a friend of mine told me to check out Recycle-A-Bike in DUMBO, but he didn't know much about it other than what I've already heard which is vague info about a program involving children fixing up the bikes. I checked out their website but it just sent me through a marathon of link-clicking and I still don't know much about the organization or it's programs.

Anyway, the Recycle-A-Bike was just something that I'm curious about... I'd be very grateful of any suggestions of places to check out in or around the bs/ch/fg area. Thanks!

Stay cute,
-b

limestonekid · June 2007

I don't know what they have for used bikes but Bicycle Station on Vanderbilt is a great place.

I'm sure if you stopped by and talked with Christine she'd be able to give you some great advice and tips.

They have great customer service there. I take both of my bikes there for service.

b-rock · June 2007

I'll check it out, thanks!

bifteck · June 2007

I just bought a used bike a few weeks ago and I found a ton on Craigslist. It's definitely worth a look, especially because it seems that more than a few "dealers" advertise their wares there.

b-rock · June 2007

I've been on Craigslist a lot lately. I haven't found anything yet... maybe I'm expecting to pay too low. Then again, I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a nice old frame, wheels that move and breaks that work. Not too picky, dare I say.

bifteck · June 2007

I got a nice 1973 Nottingham Raleigh -- I was definitely looking for a "vintage" bike of sorts -- and it's in pretty nice shape. Has a back basket and the original under-seat leather satchel. I paid $150 for it and that seemed basically market price. Then again, I was looking specifically for something old looking, so perhaps it is more expensive than what you're expecting.

bw · June 2007

Glad to hear about more people interested in bikes! I think Brooklyn is a great place to ride around and a bike is the best way to explore the area. Yesterday I rode down Ocean Parkway to Coney Island. So much fun! When you are at the bike shop, ask them for a bike map so that you can see all the bicycle routes available to you.

guvna · June 2007

bw wrote: Glad to hear about more people interested in bikes! I think Brooklyn is a great place to ride around and a bike is the best way to explore the area. Yesterday I rode down Ocean Parkway to Coney Island. So much fun! When you are at the bike shop, ask them for a bike map so that you can see all the bicycle routes available to you.

In my hayday I once rode from coney Island all that way to Nyack and back to brooklyn. While I wouldnt recommend the casual cyclist to try that, I would recommend the ride you took to coney island 8)

queencallipygos · June 2007

LimestoneKid wrote: I don't know what they have for used bikes but Bicycle Station on Vanderbilt is a great place.

I'm sure if you stopped by and talked with Christine she'd be able to give you some great advice and tips.

They have great customer service there. I take both of my bikes there for service.

I'll issue a caveat that Bicycle Station doesn't sell used bikes any more; they do sell new ones. But they do great at fixing up used bikes, should they need it, and are just great in general.

b-rock · June 2007

thanks for letting me know, queencallipygos. saves me a trip out there. yes, i would like a vintage bike. i like raleighs a lot, and schwinns of course. i'm not interested in a racing bike though, i'm kind of tall for a girl and feel akward hunched over so much.

does anyone know anything about the recycle a bike. also, someone let me know about a guy on lorimer in williamsburgh.

queencallipygos · June 2007

b-rock wrote: thanks for letting me know, queencallipygos. saves me a trip out there. yes, i would like a vintage bike. i like raleighs a lot, and schwinns of course. i'm not interested in a racing bike though, i'm kind of tall for a girl and feel akward hunched over so much.

does anyone know anything about the recycle a bike. also, someone let me know about a guy on lorimer in williamsburgh.

It wasn't Lorimer, but I got my bike in Williamsburg from a guy who set up a fleet of used bikes in front of the Salvation Army on Bedford. It was in...decent enough shape; he put new brakes, a basket, and a bell on it, and the people at Bicycle Station said that what he charged was comparable to where you could get it other places. On the other hand, I did have to have the whole gear works replaced, but I don't know if that was because of the guy I got it from, or if it was something that got dinged a week after I bought my bike and it fell over.

The guy on Bedford also said that if the bike I bought turned out to be a lemon I could trade it in for another one from him, or if I just wanted another bike in a couple years I could trade it in. You may need to give the bikes you get from him a couple small repairs, but that might be the case to any other used bike you get, so it's an option.

anonymous · June 2007

This past January I bought my bike at recycle a bicycle (the Brooklyn location - I've never been to the Manhattan one). I thought that the staff were really friendly and knew a lot about all the bikes being sold. I guess their inventory changes pretty often, but when I was there, they had a large selection with many different styles and price ranges. They have your basic modern bike for anywhere from around $75 or a $100 on up. They also had a lot of older styles (and new bikes that had the more old fashioned lines). They also will give you a free tune-up after one month. Anyway, I thought they were great, and definitely worth going by there, if only for the large selection and test-driving - it will give you a better idea of what you want.

b-rock · June 2007

amazing... thanks everyone!

piratesofwaverly · June 2007

I admire the impulse to recycle (damn, that would be a funny name for a used bike store, "RE:CYCLE"), but I guess I'd want to buy from an established storefront rather than a street seller. Maybe I'm paranoid, just don't want to inadvertently support thievery.

Not that everyone on the street is a thief, mind you, or that everyone in a store isn't. I haven't figured this out completely, just don't want to buy a stolen bike. In fact, I bought new just to avoid the issue.

Re-reading this, I know I sound insane. Oh well.

bw · June 2007

Is anyone interested in getting together for a ride? Either after work starting at around 6:30 or on the weekend. We could use the NYC Bike Map to create our routes and explore NYC via bicycle.

anonymous · July 2007

Does anybody know about how much, approximately, it would be to get a bent back rim fixed on an old Columbia 3-speed 19'' frame? I found it for about $35, I'm trying to see how much the additional costs will be to fix it before I decide to buy it.

Used bikes...

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